Artist Resume

Leif Alexander Harmsen

Web: www.harmsen.net
Email: leif@harmsen.net
Voice: +1.647.827.0546 (please do not text)


Education

MA Computer Applications for Art & Art History
Birkbeck College, University of London.
My dissertation is an interactive CD-ROM of the 3,000 year old narrative Black Obelesk of Shalmanesser III, complete with 3D views, line by line translation and other features.
1997
London, UK

BFA honours Art History & Studio Art. Creative Writing minor.
Concordia University.
1995
Montreal, Canada
 


Selected Exhibitions

  • 519 Community Centre, Toronto
  • Alucine
  • Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Toronto
  • Art System, Toronto
  • Cinecycle, Toronto
  • Ed Video, Guelph
  • Fountain Contemporary, Toronto
  • Gallery-X, Toronto
  • Gargoyle Mechanique, New York
  • Gas Station, New York
  • Gladstone Hotel, Toronto
  • Images Festival, Toronto
  • Inside Out Lesbian & Gay Film & Video Festival, Toronto
  • Leslie/Lohman Gallery, New York
  • Mexico City Lesbiani & Gay Film Festival, Mexico City
  • Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA), Toronto
  • OUT-tv, Toronto
  • Paris Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, Paris
  • Performance Space, New York
  • Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival, Toronto
  • SPIN Gallery, Toronto
  • SPLICE THIS! Film Festival, Toronto
  • Trinity Square Video, Toronto
  • Urban Space, 401 Richmond, Toronto
  • Van Halen Cafe, Toronto
  • Winnipeg Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, Winnipeg
  • YYZ Artists' Outlet, Toronto
     


Work
Interdisciplinary Artist realizing projects that make use of dynamic database driven web content, server side image crunching, movies, oil painting & exhibition, dance performance, machinery and more. Projects include:

  • Toraanisqatsi remake of Koyaanisqatsi shot in Toronto. Music by Bob Wiseman.
  • Digital Nudes in Oil a homo-graphic series of large digital nudes in oil on canvas that deal with the institutions of censorship, digitization of sexual culture, and colour.
  • Creator, Developer and Programmer of VendaVision, single serving movies.
  • Invented the Surferbike and Surferbike culture, a bicycle for surfing over land
  • Houseguests A light sculpture installation at the Art Gallery of Ontario, with Luis Jacob
  • The Evolution of the Ideal Man, digital interactive released at Toronto's Images Festival
  • YYZ Artists' Outlet new online presence with YYZ Books bookshop
  • Bedroom Suite a 16:9 HD poetic video about intimacy, dedicated to Canada Customs
  • Remedy a wide-screen Super 8 short comedy about depression
  • Hidden Cameras Videos, A Miracle and I Believe
  • Electrical Discharge a short out film with Greg Woodbury
  • Machine Sex Action Group performances under Governor General Award winning interdisciplinary artist Istvan Kantor
  • Creative websites with content management, applications and hosting for many personal clients, including Duckie, Trinity Square Video, Charles Street Video, Felt Studio, Christopher Cunningham, Margaret Frazer House, YYZ Artists' Outlet, Toronto Images Festival, SAW Video and Lunched Records.



Art Gallery Board Director
YYZ Artists' Outlet

Planned, directed and evaluated YYZ's activities as board member.
Served on visual art and time based curatorial committees.
Co-curated and installed interdisciplinary exhibition Surrealestate.
Designed and produced YYZ's website, with content management, archives, contact database, mass mailer and bookstore.
Responsible for installing exhibitions requiring technical expertise.
Advised on technological issues for YYZ's major renovation.
Curated artist projects for the YYZine.
2001-2003
Toronto, Canada

Digital Artist and co-founder
Webterior Multimedia Arts

Creative and technical director of Webterior's high profile web and CD-ROM based multimedia art projects.
1998
London, UK

Digital Imaging Specialist
National Portrait Gallery
Advised on process specifications, software, colourmetrics and workflow for optimal quality and efficiency.
One of a group of 4 responsible for imaging the NPG's 10,000+ collection of portraits for a comprehensive catalogue, collection management database, educational, promotional and other uses.
1996-1997
London, UK

Director
Cafe-X, the gallery & cafe at Concordia's Visual Arts building.
Initiated & coordinated all work, dealt with the accounting & hiring, managed 10 staff and oversaw the operation.
Exhibited a diversity of student work & held openings weekly with musicians & performers.
Undertook major interior renovations & refurbishment.
1993-1994
Montreal, Canada

Administrator and Technician
Gas Station cultural centre for music, performance, outdoor sculpture and billboard art. Summer 1989
New York City, USA


Professional Skills

  • Professional expertise in art history and contemporary art theory and practice.
  • Drawing and painting in oils
  • Film production and digital video production & post production.
  • Digital art & photographic processes.
  • Internet application including mobile "app" development using reliable open source technologies.
  • Digital Design and Multimedia, including DVD authoring
  • Public speaking.
  • Curatorial work, installation, events.
  • Interior design and rennovation including carpentry, electrical and plumbing.
  • Teaching art history to artists and studio art students.
     


Travel
Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cook Islands, France, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Singapore, Switzerland, Tahiti, Taiwan, United Kingdom, USA.